Gun control lies that just won't die

The tragic shooting in Nevada at the IHOP has got the anti-gun crowd pulling out all of the standard lies about guns and gun owners. One of the biggest lies they tell is that gun owners are walking around with "assault" weapons. A assault weapon is defined as a lightweight, shoulder fired, select-fire weapon. The rifles that civilians own are not select fire, they are semi-auto only. Big difference.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20111025/NEWS/110230362/1002

Lie #1."There's no reason for an AK-47 or an M-16 or an M-4 to be in a civilian's home."
There aren't. These are true assault weapons and are highly regulated. If you wanted to own one of these, you have to go through a extensive background check and pay the government a $200.00 tax. These weapons can cost $10,000.00 or more. Not something that someone would use in a crime.

Lie #2.Semi-automatic assault weapons can easily be converted into automatic weapons -- which are the same thing as machine guns -- with a simple kit available online or at gun shows, officials said.
Nope. The parts that can convert a semi-auto to full-auto are as heavily regulated as the rifles they are installed in. I have never seen a "kit" at a gun show or online. And I have looked. This lie has been around for years.

Lie #3."There are almost no positive laws in Nevada to keep guns away from dangerous people,"
Dangerous people are usually felons. It is against federal law for a felon to possess any kind of firearm. What good is any law if the miscreant is going to ignore it any way. Only the law abiding obey the law. Sad fact that these anti's have never learned.

Lie #4 the current system for federally registering machine guns is problematic because federal law prohibits the ATF from telling local law enforcement who has the guns.
Technically, this is both a lie and the truth. The ATF does not inform the locals about the sale of class 3 weapons. The purchaser, when filling out the forms has to forward a copy to the local chief law enforcement officer for the area, whether it's the Chief of Police or the Sheriff. So the truth is, they know who owns the true assault weapons.

There are some other half truth spread out through the article. I like the way they brought up the Tucson shooting. The sheriff knew the shooter was a nut job, but because his family were friends and supporters, he didn't do anything. If the sheriff had done his job, the shooter would not have been able to legally purchase a gun.

The anti's never have anything but emotion and fear. Their idea is to mislead the public. If they can make people think that these are "machineguns", so much the better. And the press has been a willing accomplice. There are a lot of other "facts" they conveniently leave out of their screeds, the fact that guns are used defensively over 2 million times a year. A lot of times without firing a shot.

Nevada National Guard Sgt. Caitlin Kelley, one of the victims in the IHOP attack, thinks there should be a ban. Even though she took a oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. I guess even the people in the Military can decide what rights they want to trample.